ACT Photo Essay: Papua New Guinea

A month of fear for the islanders of Manam culminated in their forced evacuation to the mainland when the volcano on their island erupted in the last week of November. Virtually the entire population of nearly 9,500 people from 20 villages, four mission stations and one agricultural research station was affected.

Background: Manam Island is in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies off the coast of the Madang sub-district of Bogia, approximately 40 minutes away by motorized dinghy. Its first known eruption was in 1616. Since then, Manam has erupted at least 30 times. In the mid-90s, a massive eruption killed 13 islanders and sent up a plume of smoke 6 miles high. New eruptions at the end of October this year had little negative impact on the islands' communities. However, on 21 November 2004, a massive eruption forced the evacuation of the island's population. This eruption was reportedly matched in size by a similar massive eruption 40 years ago in 1964.

Continuing assistance: PNGC's assessment among those in need of assistance indicates that the islanders have lost all forms of livelihood for at least the next 6 months, if not longer. Long-term losses include a loss of cash crops such as cocoa, copra and coffee, all crops on which the islanders depended.

Potsdam care centre is refuge to the population of 5 villages, totalling 2,464 persons with 558 heads of households.

The Mangem care centre is managed by the Madang Provincial Disaster Office (MPDO). It was the first camp established by the first villagers evacuated from Manam Island. The MPDO has been allocated funding by the national government to supply food to all three care centres, with further assistance for food and permanent resettlement planning pledged for the new year, according to local media reports. Mangem care centre is offering shelter to the population of 7 villages totalling 2,720 persons with 510 heads of households.

The largest and the most densely populated care centre is Asuramba, which is managed by the Red Cross. Asuramba care centre is refuge to the population of 6 villages, totalling 4,279 persons with 904 heads of households.

All three care centres are located along the coastline with little to no readily available pure drinking water, proper sanitation or infrastructure in place. For drinking water, people have had to dig several water wells along the beach front. There is also a problem of sanitation as there are no proper toilets. Fears are that pit latrines may in time contaminate the water sources.

Dateline ACT

Papua New Guinea 01/04





									Dateline ACT Papua New Guinea 01/04 Photo essay Papua New Guinea: Manam Island volcanic eruption A month of fear for the islanders of Manam culminated in their forced evacuation to the mainland when the volcano on their island erupted in the last week of November. Virtually the entire population of nearly 9,500 people from 20 villages, four mission stations and one agricultural research station was affected. Tom Anayabere, the general secretary of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches (PNGCC) reported after a recent visit to the mainland that when meeting the last of the evacuees from Manam Island disembarking at Bogia beach, it seemed that many would not be returning to their island home. He wrote that from Bogia beach, "Manam Island looks like a dust-covered desert island, with very little green left to be seen." The volcano was still active, he reported, adding that it was still pumping thick black smoke high into the air. "The fear of what they had gone through could be seen in the eyes of evacuees whom I have met coming off the ship, some still covered in volcanic dust. Though in despair and continuing to look in the direction of their once beautiful island, the fearful look on their faces told a greater story of pain and great loss, which I am sure they could not explain sufficiently with words," he said. Background: Manam Island is in the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies off the coast of the Madang sub-district of Bogia, approximately 40 minutes away by motorized dinghy. Its first known eruption was in 1616. Since then, Manam has erupted at least 30 times. In the mid-90s, a massive eruption killed 13 islanders and sent up a plume of smoke 6 miles high. New eruptions at the end of October this year had little negative impact on the islands' communities. However, on 21 November 2004, a massive eruption forced the evacuation of the island's population. This eruption was reportedly matched in size by a similar massive eruption 40 years ago in 1964. Continuing assistance: PNGC's assessment among those in need of assistance indicates that the islanders have lost all forms of livelihood for at least the next 6 months, if not longer. Long-term losses include a loss of cash crops such as cocoa, copra and coffee, all crops on which the islanders depended. The $40,000 US rapid response fund from members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International through the ACT Coordinating Office, was used to supply the islanders with mosquito nets. Malaria is not a risk on the volcanic island of Manam, and its inhabitants therefore had no nets with them. Already, cases of malaria had been confirmed at the care centres where people took refuge. PNGCC delivered 2,000 mosquito nets to the care centres (500 to Potsdam care Centre, which is managed by the Salvation Army, 500 to Mangem Care Centre and 1,000 to Asuramba Care Centre, which is managed by the red Cross). The 2,000 nets are not enough to meet the needs of all the displaced families and PNGCC is hoping to supply more in its second phase of assistance. The care centres had been set up on the mainland by the government of Papua New Guinea 1990's in anticipation of a major eruption on Manam Island. The three care centres, Potsdam (205 km by country road from Madang town), Asuramba (160 km by country road from Madang town) and Mangem (80 km by country road from Madang town), are difficult to reach by road. Transportation of relief supplies relief supplies have not been easy. Potsdam care centre is refuge to the population of 5 villages, totalling 2,464 persons with 558 heads of households. The Mangem care centre is managed by the Madang Provincial Disaster Office (MPDO). It was the first camp established by the first villagers evacuated from Manam Island. The MPDO has been allocated funding by the national government to supply food to all three care centres, with further assistance for food and permanent resettlement planning pledged for the new year, according to local media reports. Mangem care centre is offering shelter to the population of 7 villages totalling 2,720 persons with 510 heads of households. The largest and the most densely populated care centre is Asuramba, which is managed by the Red Cross. Asuramba care centre is refuge to the population of 6 villages, totalling 4,279 persons with 904 heads of households. All three care centres are located along the coastline with little to no readily available pure drinking water, proper sanitation or infrastructure in place. For drinking water, people have had to dig several water wells along the beach front. There is also a problem of sanitation as there are no proper toilets. Fears are that pit latrines may in time contaminate the water sources. For a map of Papua New Guinea, click on the following Reliefweb link ACT Home Latest news Other Datelines Photos from Emergencies